Full service restaurant and bar with a patio. This place has items on the menu for as many different dietary requirements as possible. Warm and welcoming with a beautiful patio if you want to eat by the waterside! Wheelchair accessible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul C
This place has the potential to be great. It has a great location and could be a great atmosphere but neither will rescue the problems that abound here. From the moment we entered we were concerned but remained hopeful. There was no one to greet us and even after calling out "hello?", no one appeared. From the dirty glasses and disorganized front end we should have known and left. But, we had heard good things so powered through. Our waiter seated us and gave us a glowing review of olive oil crostini and wonderful blue cheeses. We got dried out bread and very little cheese of no distinction - no blue at all! The 18 hour in house smoked pulled pork (his description) turn out to be a cut up pork chop in dry pasta. The wines were bad, the food worse. Basically, the waiter over sold and the kitchen under delivered. Even the seats were uncomfortable (we noticed another couple changing the seats for others). Don't waste your time and money here. We tried to offer constructive advice (having been in the business) but our server would not listen. Too bad. This could be a great place.
murrayw344
On my first visit to Monarch since moving back to New Glasgow, my wife and I came on the evening that they debuted their new spring/summer menu. The ABC salad was a tasty good mix - spring mix, roasted apples, bacon aioli, cheddar curds and cornbread croutons. The star of the show was definitely the bacon aioli which had a killer smoky flavour and elevated the dish. Pulled pork sandwiches have been an ubiquitous menu item for more than a decade, but Monarch did well by it with a savoury pork that wasn't mushy and overcooked and a red cabbage slaw that was flecked with coconut for a unique take on a standard pulled pork pairing (PPP). Bonus points to Monarch for the GF option for the bun, not to mention how much of the whole menu can be made GF! A side of crunchy thyme chips were everything you'd want in a chip and a nice textural contrast to the sandwich. My coconut haddock was a wonderfully well-executed dish - flaky fish and a crisp, coconut crust that wasn't *too* coconutty. A dill aioli added a tartar-esque flavour, and the roasted potatoes were an herby complement to the fish. The coconut slaw made another tasty appearance. On a return visit, we were there on one of Monarch's monthly wine nights. At four courses - each with a paired wine - and a $60 price tag, this has got to be the best quality per dollar in town! The meal started with a rhubarb and radish salad. The fresh, local veg and tart vinaigrette paired well with an acidic Ontario Riesling. For the main, a cut of Red Mountain beef tenderloin was *so* tender and although tenderloin isn't always the most flavourful cut, the quality of the locally-sourced meat stood out. Roasted veg and a pop of vegetal brightness from pea shoots rounded out a delicious dish. A Chilean Carmenere had a really unique flavour profile; I'm admittedly not familiar with the varietal, but it stood up well to the beef and was of great interest on its own. A cheese course eased our taste buds back down and an Australian chardonnay had a big enough flavour to hold its ground against the salty umami of the aged cheese. To cap our delicious meal, a loose apple and rhubarb tart, with a healthy (figuratively) dollop of whipped cream was a great send-off with mix of sweet and tart, and the crumble breaking up the soft apple and rhubarb. A lightly sweet sauv blanc with a hint of acidity finished off the wines. Monarch is a star on the local food scene and if you're not darkening their doorway, you're doing your taste buds a grave disservice.
Murray W.
On my first visit to Monarch since moving back to New Glasgow, my wife and I came on the evening that they debuted their new spring/summer menu.The ABC salad was a tasty good mix - spring mix, roasted apples, bacon aioli, cheddar curds and cornbread croutons. The star of the show was definitely the bacon aioli which had a killer smoky flavour and elevated the dish.Pulled pork sandwiches have been an ubiquitous menu item for more than a decade, but Monarch did well by it with a savoury pork that wasn't mushy and overcooked and a red cabbage slaw that was flecked with coconut for a unique take on a standard pulled pork pairing (PPP). Bonus points to Monarch for the GF option for the bun, not to mention how much of the whole menu can be made GF! A side of crunchy thyme chips were everything you'd want in a chip and a nice textural contrast to the sandwich.My coconut haddock was a wonderfully well-executed dish - flaky fish and a crisp, coconut crust that wasn't *too* coconutty. A dill aioli added a tartar-esque flavour, and the roasted potatoes were an herby complement to the fish. The coconut slaw made another tasty appearance.On a return visit, we were there on one of Monarch's monthly wine nights. At four courses - each with a paired wine - and a $60 price tag, this has got to be the best quality per dollar in town!The meal started with a rhubarb and radish salad. The fresh, local veg and tart vinaigrette paired well with an acidic Ontario Riesling.For the main, a cut of Red Mountain beef tenderloin was *so* tender and although tenderloin isn't always the most flavourful cut, the quality of the locally-sourced meat stood out. Roasted veg and a pop of vegetal brightness from pea shoots rounded out a delicious dish. A Chilean Carmenere had a really unique flavour profile; I'm admittedly not familiar with the varietal, but it stood up well to the beef and was of great interest on its own.A cheese course eased our taste buds back down and an Australian chardonnay had a big enough flavour to hold its ground against the salty umami of the aged cheese.To cap our delicious meal, a loose apple and rhubarb tart, with a healthy (figuratively) dollop of whipped cream was a great send-off with mix of sweet and tart, and the crumble breaking up the soft apple and rhubarb. A lightly sweet sauv blanc with a hint of acidity finished off the wines.Monarch is a star on the local food scene and if you're not darkening their doorway, you're doing your taste buds a grave disservice.
Juanita “Nini” Brittain
So good! Beautiful view, great service!
Tarsila Stoeckicht
This spot right on the river is such a gem! Wonderful atmosphere with friendly service, great food and tasty cocktails!
Michelle Franco
Great spot , not much on your plate for $35 though
Susan Guardia
We stopped en route to Cape Breton and were so pleasantly surprised at this lovely gem of a restaurant!We first had a Gin Fizz and Margarita which were super refreshing drinks to start.Then on to the food! The Red Chowder was absolutely delicious and so fresh with hints of fennel and marjoram. We also had the Seafood Risotto and the Coconut Encrusted Haddock and both were delicious.Our server was extremely nice and the owner came by and we had a very nice conversation. Overall, we totally enjoyed our time on the outdoor deck next to the river and would definitely go back!
Troy 616
Wonderful dinners all around. Great service too! It was a little tricky to find, with the construction but so worth the effort. We had the Pulled Pork Mac 'n Cheese, the Arctic Char and the Seafood Risotto followed by amazing desserts. The portions were perfect (not too big) and we all ate every morsel!
Heather Watters
As someone who is vegan, the menu is lackluster at best. You have an option of hummus and chips, and charred cauliflower with chickpeas... which is basically more hummus. With so many better vegan options in the world, this is not worth the time. Two stars for at least thinking about vegan options, but I can do more with a quick browse of the grocery store and 10 minutes in the kitchen.
Working in the area, was looking for a nice homemade meal with a nice outside view. I got that and them some, brining the wife back here !!
Joe Locke
A wonderful little restaurant right on the river. Delightful cocktails. A small but thoughtfully curated beer and wine list. Tasty food. Friendly server. I'll be back for sure.
Bethany Visser
The food and drink selection was beyond compare. The wait and bar staff were incredibly personable and we loved every minute of our time there. We will definitely be back.
Full service restaurant and bar with a patio. This place has items on the menu for as many different dietary requirements as possible. Warm and welcoming with a beautiful patio if you want to eat by the waterside! Wheelchair accessible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place has the potential to be great. It has a great location and could be a great atmosphere but neither will rescue the problems that abound here. From the moment we entered we were concerned but remained hopeful. There was no one to greet us and even after calling out "hello?", no one appeared. From the dirty glasses and disorganized front end we should have known and left. But, we had heard good things so powered through. Our waiter seated us and gave us a glowing review of olive oil crostini and wonderful blue cheeses. We got dried out bread and very little cheese of no distinction - no blue at all! The 18 hour in house smoked pulled pork (his description) turn out to be a cut up pork chop in dry pasta. The wines were bad, the food worse. Basically, the waiter over sold and the kitchen under delivered. Even the seats were uncomfortable (we noticed another couple changing the seats for others). Don't waste your time and money here. We tried to offer constructive advice (having been in the business) but our server would not listen. Too bad. This could be a great place.
On my first visit to Monarch since moving back to New Glasgow, my wife and I came on the evening that they debuted their new spring/summer menu. The ABC salad was a tasty good mix - spring mix, roasted apples, bacon aioli, cheddar curds and cornbread croutons. The star of the show was definitely the bacon aioli which had a killer smoky flavour and elevated the dish. Pulled pork sandwiches have been an ubiquitous menu item for more than a decade, but Monarch did well by it with a savoury pork that wasn't mushy and overcooked and a red cabbage slaw that was flecked with coconut for a unique take on a standard pulled pork pairing (PPP). Bonus points to Monarch for the GF option for the bun, not to mention how much of the whole menu can be made GF! A side of crunchy thyme chips were everything you'd want in a chip and a nice textural contrast to the sandwich. My coconut haddock was a wonderfully well-executed dish - flaky fish and a crisp, coconut crust that wasn't *too* coconutty. A dill aioli added a tartar-esque flavour, and the roasted potatoes were an herby complement to the fish. The coconut slaw made another tasty appearance. On a return visit, we were there on one of Monarch's monthly wine nights. At four courses - each with a paired wine - and a $60 price tag, this has got to be the best quality per dollar in town! The meal started with a rhubarb and radish salad. The fresh, local veg and tart vinaigrette paired well with an acidic Ontario Riesling. For the main, a cut of Red Mountain beef tenderloin was *so* tender and although tenderloin isn't always the most flavourful cut, the quality of the locally-sourced meat stood out. Roasted veg and a pop of vegetal brightness from pea shoots rounded out a delicious dish. A Chilean Carmenere had a really unique flavour profile; I'm admittedly not familiar with the varietal, but it stood up well to the beef and was of great interest on its own. A cheese course eased our taste buds back down and an Australian chardonnay had a big enough flavour to hold its ground against the salty umami of the aged cheese. To cap our delicious meal, a loose apple and rhubarb tart, with a healthy (figuratively) dollop of whipped cream was a great send-off with mix of sweet and tart, and the crumble breaking up the soft apple and rhubarb. A lightly sweet sauv blanc with a hint of acidity finished off the wines. Monarch is a star on the local food scene and if you're not darkening their doorway, you're doing your taste buds a grave disservice.
On my first visit to Monarch since moving back to New Glasgow, my wife and I came on the evening that they debuted their new spring/summer menu.The ABC salad was a tasty good mix - spring mix, roasted apples, bacon aioli, cheddar curds and cornbread croutons. The star of the show was definitely the bacon aioli which had a killer smoky flavour and elevated the dish.Pulled pork sandwiches have been an ubiquitous menu item for more than a decade, but Monarch did well by it with a savoury pork that wasn't mushy and overcooked and a red cabbage slaw that was flecked with coconut for a unique take on a standard pulled pork pairing (PPP). Bonus points to Monarch for the GF option for the bun, not to mention how much of the whole menu can be made GF! A side of crunchy thyme chips were everything you'd want in a chip and a nice textural contrast to the sandwich.My coconut haddock was a wonderfully well-executed dish - flaky fish and a crisp, coconut crust that wasn't *too* coconutty. A dill aioli added a tartar-esque flavour, and the roasted potatoes were an herby complement to the fish. The coconut slaw made another tasty appearance.On a return visit, we were there on one of Monarch's monthly wine nights. At four courses - each with a paired wine - and a $60 price tag, this has got to be the best quality per dollar in town!The meal started with a rhubarb and radish salad. The fresh, local veg and tart vinaigrette paired well with an acidic Ontario Riesling.For the main, a cut of Red Mountain beef tenderloin was *so* tender and although tenderloin isn't always the most flavourful cut, the quality of the locally-sourced meat stood out. Roasted veg and a pop of vegetal brightness from pea shoots rounded out a delicious dish. A Chilean Carmenere had a really unique flavour profile; I'm admittedly not familiar with the varietal, but it stood up well to the beef and was of great interest on its own.A cheese course eased our taste buds back down and an Australian chardonnay had a big enough flavour to hold its ground against the salty umami of the aged cheese.To cap our delicious meal, a loose apple and rhubarb tart, with a healthy (figuratively) dollop of whipped cream was a great send-off with mix of sweet and tart, and the crumble breaking up the soft apple and rhubarb. A lightly sweet sauv blanc with a hint of acidity finished off the wines.Monarch is a star on the local food scene and if you're not darkening their doorway, you're doing your taste buds a grave disservice.
So good! Beautiful view, great service!
This spot right on the river is such a gem! Wonderful atmosphere with friendly service, great food and tasty cocktails!
Great spot , not much on your plate for $35 though
We stopped en route to Cape Breton and were so pleasantly surprised at this lovely gem of a restaurant!We first had a Gin Fizz and Margarita which were super refreshing drinks to start.Then on to the food! The Red Chowder was absolutely delicious and so fresh with hints of fennel and marjoram. We also had the Seafood Risotto and the Coconut Encrusted Haddock and both were delicious.Our server was extremely nice and the owner came by and we had a very nice conversation. Overall, we totally enjoyed our time on the outdoor deck next to the river and would definitely go back!
Wonderful dinners all around. Great service too! It was a little tricky to find, with the construction but so worth the effort. We had the Pulled Pork Mac 'n Cheese, the Arctic Char and the Seafood Risotto followed by amazing desserts. The portions were perfect (not too big) and we all ate every morsel!
As someone who is vegan, the menu is lackluster at best. You have an option of hummus and chips, and charred cauliflower with chickpeas... which is basically more hummus. With so many better vegan options in the world, this is not worth the time. Two stars for at least thinking about vegan options, but I can do more with a quick browse of the grocery store and 10 minutes in the kitchen.
Restaurantji Recommends
So good! Beautiful view, great service!
Beautiful view! Great food and amazing service!
Working in the area, was looking for a nice homemade meal with a nice outside view. I got that and them some, brining the wife back here !!
A wonderful little restaurant right on the river. Delightful cocktails. A small but thoughtfully curated beer and wine list. Tasty food. Friendly server. I'll be back for sure.
The food and drink selection was beyond compare. The wait and bar staff were incredibly personable and we loved every minute of our time there. We will definitely be back.